Buffing compound



Patented June 15, 1954 BUFFING COMPOUND Clarence B. F. Young, Leonia, N.J.

No Drawing. ApplicationSe-ptember 29, 1950, Serial No. 187,658

16 Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No.709,773, filed November 14, 1946, now abandoned, for Bumng Compound.

The present invention relates to a buffing composition and to a methodof treatment of a metal article to be electroplated, lacquered orotherwise treated to remove all residual buffing material from thesurface of the metal article after the bufiing operation.

More particularly, the invention relates to a buffing compound orcomposition which is adapted for buffing, polishing or grinding thesurface of metals, alloys, plastics and the like, particularly in theform of an article, without the necessity of treating the metal withcaustic alkali after the bufiing operation in accordance with the usualprocedure, in order to permit subsequent electroplating, lacquering, orotherwise treating the metal or article, and from which the residualfilm may be readily removed by treatment with hot water or immersion ina dilute acid or alkali solution of sufficient strength to remove thevehicle of the bufiing compound but of insufiicient strength to etch orappreciably attack the metal during normal time of immersion or contacttherewith.

The term bufiing compound is generally understood to include the varioussubstances or materials which are used to produce bright or semibrightfinishes on metals, metallic surfaces or plastics and plastic surfaces,and includes the various materials known in the electroplating art asbuffing, polishing or cutting-down compounds. Such buifing compoundsinclude an abrasive material or abrasive agent, such as emery, flint,clay, aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate, Carborundum and various otheragents, and a vehicle or binding agent adapted to hold the grains of theabrasive material together during the bufling operation. For thispurpose, a grease which is solid at ordinary room temperature orsomewhat above room temperature, or beeswax, paraffin, tallow, stearicacid or other suitable binder and lubricant may be used. The landingcompound is generally in a stick or bar form, although it may be used inthe form of a paste, or in lumps, or other suitable form.

In the electroplating art, a metal or alloy which is to be electroplatedand which has been machine d, cast, or otherwise formed with or withoutheat treatment, is first pickled or de-scaled by an acid or picklingbath.

The pickling or de-scaling operation leaves the surface of the metal ina somewhat roughened condition and the article is generally ground downon an emery wheel, or is cut down on some type of abrasive wheel, inorder to remove pits and to obtain a relatively even, smooth surface.The article is then generally polished or smoothed down to a polishedsurface by contact with a rotating canvas or duck wheel, to the surfaceof which a bulfing compound is applied while the article is buffed untila bright polished surface of the desired luster is produced Heretofore,after the buffing operation and before electroplating the article, ithas been the practice to remove all of the buffing compound remaining onthe surface of the article, including the abrasive material and as muchof the grease or vehicle film as may be removed, by soaking in alkalicleaners.

After the metal article has been properly soaked in the alkali cleaner,the article is further cleansed by treatment in a separateelectrocleaner, usually with the same alkali or alkali cleaning compoundas was used in the first cleaning step, the article being subjected tothe action of an electric current of suitable voltage for a timesufiicient to thoroughly cleanse the article.

It has been generally recognized in the art that the method and agentsheretofore employed are not entirely satisfactory and many attempts havebeen made to improve the method of treatment by incorporating into thebuffing compound an agent or agents which will hasten the wetting of thepolished article and the emulsification of the greasy film thereon,thereby aiding the saponification and emulsification of the componentsof the bar. Various agents have been used and experimented with, such assoaps and other presaponified materials, as well as various wettingagents, which serve to lower the surface tension of the cleaningsolution, so as to bring the cleaning solution more rapidly into contactwith the take place. Such agents have been used in neutral or alkalinesolution in an attempt to hasten the emulsification of the film and theslashing off of the greasy constituents adhering to the polishedsurface, but the procedure is particularly time-consuming and has notproved effective to remove all of the film without subsequent treatment.

The present invention is based on the discovery that greatly improvedresults may be obtained in the removal of the residual film from thebufiing compound adhering to the surface or the metal article to beelectroplated by the use of a vehicle or constituents in the compositionof the builing rupt or break up the film, which is dispersed in ordissolved in the said liquid so as to leave no portion of the film orvehicle in contact with the metal surface to he electroplated. The gasfor this purpose is preferably carbon dioxide and may be readilygenerated from a metal carbonate, such as calcium carbonate, forexample, on contact with a dilute acid solution, such as hydrochloricacid, for example, which is of a strength to react relatively rapidlywith the fiar'hnnatn 1m suflicient in strength to appreciably attack themetal of the article or to cause etching thereof during the normal timeof treatment. If an acid is used, it is preferably a mineral acid suchas will not react to form an insoluble compound with the metal carbonateconstituent of the buffing compound. For example, if sodium carbonate orbicarbonate is employed as the gas-generating agent in the buffingcompound, a dilute solution of sulphuric acid may be used; but ifcalcium carbonate is employed for this purpose, sulphuric acid may notbe used as it reacts therewith to form calcium sulphate, which isinsoluble, and hydrochloric acid is therefore preferably used in thiscase.

The vehicle, binding agent, or lubricant for the bumng compound is onewhich is soluble in water a or dilute acid solution, or one in which theconstituents react to produce soluble compounds, or which aredispersible or emulsifiable in water or dilute acid solution, so thatthe film left on the metal surface from the buffing compound may becompletely removed in the liquid in the manner hereinafter fullydescribed. As another example, tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate mavbe employed in the buffing compound so that when we article which hasbeen buffed is placed in water or in an aqueous solution, the two willunite and react to release carbon dioxide to remove the remainingbufiing compound from the surface of the article. In this way, twosolids may be united which are chemically inert until they contact withwater or are placed in an aqueous solution, whereupon they release agas.

In accordance with the present invention, the buffing compound iscomposed of a cutting material and a vehicle or binding material, thelatter being soluble or dispersible in water, and the former may containa material which if placed in water or in an acid solution will give offa gas, such as carbon dioxide, which in turn will force the remainingbumng compound from the surface of the object which has been buffed. Itwill be understood that either the buffing compound or the vehicle maycomprise or contain a material or materials which will produce a gas todisassociate the buffing compound from the surface buffed thereby.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a buffing compoundcontaining a vehicle or lubricating medium having such physical andchemical properties that after use of the compound for buffing orpolishing a metal surface, the film remaining thereon or adhering to thesurface may be removed by immersing the metal in a liquid, as

by treatment of the metal with water, or an acid solution of suchstrength and properties as to remove the film without etching the metalor otherwise afiecting the metal during normal time of contacttherewith, or by treatment with or im mersing the metal in a dilutealkali solution.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buffing compound havingabrasive material associated with a vehicle, or binding agent, or alubricating agent, of such properties as to dissolve in or be dispersedin water or a dilute acid medium or a dilute alkali medium andor togenerate a gas in or in contact with the'film of the'metal remainingthereon after the buffing operation when the film is contacted withwater, or dilute acid or alkali, which serves to disperse the film andleave the surface of the metal in a condition for electroplating, or forlacquering or performing some subsequent operation requiring a cleansurface.

Another object of the invention is buffing compound and a method of usein connection therewith such that a film on the metal surface which hasbeen polished by the bufiing compound may be dissolved or dispersed inwater, or a dilute acid medium, or a dilute alkali medium withoutetching or otherwise affecting the sur- 1" ace of the metal so that itmay be immediately electroplated without further treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of buffingcompound and method of treatment of a metal surface to be electroplatedin which the buffing compound contains ingredient adapted to modify theoperation of the bufiing compound and to permit removal of the remainingfilm on the metal surface after the bumng operation therewith byimmersing the buffed metal surface or contacting the same with asolution containing an agent adapted to react with said ingredient toevolve a gas in contact with the metal surface which displaces, blowson, or disperses the said film, forming a solution, dispersion, oremulsion of the film in the said solution, thus leaving the metalsurface in a cleansed condition in which it may be electroplated withoutfurther treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bufiing compound havingnovel properties and containing an abrasive material and a vehicle orlubricant therefor and a novel method of treatment of metal articlesbuffed therewith to pre pare the same for immediate electroplating,without hot alkali treatment or other method of treatment as heretoforeemployed, by incorpora ing a metal carbonate, metal hydride of othermaterial adapted to generate a gas when the metal surface which has beenbuffed is treated with or immersed in an acid, such as dilutehydrochloric acid solution, or other reactive agent adapted to reactwith said carbonate or material to form a gas so as to break down,disperse, or dissolve the film on the metal without etching or otherwiseaffecting the metal surface and to render it in condition in which itmay be immediate- 1y electroplated or otherwise treated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buffing compound ofnovel properties containing an abrasive material, and a vehicle orlubricant which has a hydrophilic group and a hydrophobic group, so thatit has many characteristics of a grease or oil and yet is soluble inwater, acid or alkali solutions, being balanced between polar andnon-polar groups so that a wetting action is obtained. In accordancewith this object, when the materials are united and mixed with a cuttingcompound, such as silica, a'buffing compound is formed which lubricatesthe bufing wheel and which at the same time holds the cutting com poundto the wheel during the buffing action without volatilization or burningoff, and after the buffing operation is completed the buffing materialremaining on the metal or article buffed will disperse in or be solublein water, or dilute acid, or dilute alkali, which in turn releases orexpels the cutting compound from the surface of the article or materialto be electroplated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buffing compound whichis adapted to operate to provide a T5 the buffing wheel and cuts,

more rapidly than bufiing compounds heretofore produced and which isadapted to be removed from the bufied material in a minimum of time withsubstantially complete removal of the compound from the buffed material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a form of buffingcompound which will adhere to colors and buffs the metal upon which itis applied without flying off the wheel, without decomposing, and with ahigh degree of economy and operating in a very limited time, and whichmay be cleaned from crevices, interstices and small cracks from themetallic object being polished or buffed, permitting direct lylacquering the work after a dry wheeling opera tion.

A further object of the invention. is to provide a form of buffingcompound having a suiiiciently high melting point and adhesion to thematerial of the bufling wheel so as to avoid excessive consumption ofbufiing material and to avoid the necessity of stopping the buiiingoperation. for re dressing the wheel, and which is readily dispersiblein hot water or acidified or alkalized water, even after exposure to thebufiing temperatures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of bufiing compoundwhich is in stick form and in which the components are adapted to reactto give off a gas as soon as the buffing compound comes into contactwith water, or dilute acid or dilute alkali, by which the bufiingcompound remaining on the buifed object is rapidly and substantiallycompletely removed.

With these and other objects in View, the invention comprises thevarious features, composi tions and method steps hereinafter more fullydescribed and defined in the claims annexed hereto.

Referring more in detail to the method and product of the invention, thepreferred mode of carrying out the same involves the use of a buifingcompound containing an abrasive material, such as powdered silica,tripoli, Carbcrundum, emery, calcium carbonate, or mixtures of the same,together with sodium carbonate or other suitable abrasive material whichmay be with a vehicle, binding agent of such a character that after ametal or other surface has been polished or buffed with the buffingcompound, leav ing a film of the bumng compound or the vehicle thereon,the metal or other surface may be treated with or immersed in water, ora dilute acid or alkaline solution, depending on the composition of thebuffing compound, so as to slush on? or otherwise remove or disperse thefilm from the surface of the treated material. If a buffing compoundcontaining a carbonate is employed for bufiing a metal, for example,after the bufling operation the metal may be treated with or immersed ina dilute acid solution, such as an aque ous solution of hydrochloricacid of such strength as to substantially immediately react with thefilm residue of the bufiing compound, so as to dissolve the same and togenerate carbon dioxide in the body of the film whereby the film isimmediately dispersed or removed from the metal surface, theconcentration of the acid being sufficiently low so as to avoid etchingor appreciably attacking the surface of the metal, whereby the metal iscleansed to such an extent that it may be immediately electroplatedwithout further treatment.

For this purpose, the buiiing compound may employ a vehicle or lubricantcontaining polyethylene glycol preferably of high molecular weightbetween 1,000 and 6,000, that best suited for the purpose being between4,000 and 6,000. A suitable polyethylene glycol having a molecularweight between about 4,000 to 6,000 may be obtained on the market underthe name of Carbowax and is adapted to be used as the vehicle whencombined with other components which are necessary in order to raise themelting point of the composition and to cause adhesion of the bufiingcompound to the buliing wheel during the buffing operation. For thispurpose stearic acid may be added to the polyethylene glycol in suitableproportions, as for example about 38 parts of Carbowax to about 62 partsby weight of stearic acid. The abrasive of the buffing con1- pound maybe emery admixed with sodium car-- bonate, for example, which is adaptedto be readily removed from the buffed surface by in1- mersing the buffedobject in a dilute acid solu-- tion, such as a N normal) solution ofhydrochloric acid, which is of sufficient strength to reactsubstantially immediately with the carbonate of the film to evolvecarbon dioxide gas, which serves to disperse the film of the residue ofbufiing material from the surface of the metal without etching orotherwise affecting the metal. After treatment with the dilute acidsolution, the metal may be immediately electroplated or quered withoutfurther treatment, as by immersing the object in the electroplatingsolution and connecting the metal article in circuit as cathode for theelectrolytic deposition in the usual manner well known to those skilledin the art, or lacquered preferably by spraying a lacquer solution onthe surface of the metal article.

As another example of the mode of carrying out the invention, I mayemploy a buiiing compound containing aluminum oxide and calciumcarbonate which is combined with a vehicle containing 25% by weight ofCarbowax (000 to 6,000 molecular weight) and of stearic acid, in whichthe Carbowax stearic acid is in the form of a chemical compound. Afterthe metal article to be polished has been buifed with this compound, asurface film remains on the article such that when the article istreated with a dilute hydrochloric acid solution, or is immersed in adilute acid bath thereof, carbon dioxide is evolved the reaction of theacid with the calcium carbonate, by which the remaining film frombufiing operation is removed or dispersed into the bath, leaving thesurface of the metal cl an.

and ready for immediate electroplating cordance with the usualprocedure.

In general, about 70 to parts by weight of the abrasive material may beused with from 30 to 20 parts by weight of the vehicle containingpolyethylene glycol of a molecular weight from about 4,000 to 6,000, andstearic acid or a stearate, to cause proper adherence of the cc pcund tothe wheel and to impart the necessheat stability at the temperaturesattained ing the boiling operation and to pro ide suitable dispersingqualities in hot water, even after exposure to the bufling temperatures.

As another example of the buffing compound of the invention and themethod of use thereof, I may employ a buil'ing compound in stick formcontaining aluminum oxide and a metal carbonate, such as sodiumcarbonate, for example, the abrasive constituent, and containing Carbmwax 1,000 and stearic acid in combination therewith as the vehicleconstituent, and I polish the surface of the metal to be electroplated vth the said bufi'ing compound. After the metal been adequately bufi'edtherewith, I immers the metal article in an aqueous solution of alumsulphate, which hydrolyzes to provide sufiici r acidity to liberatecarbon dioxide from the carbonate constituent of the film. The liberatedcarbon dioxide serves to blow off or dislodge the film from the metalsurface and dissolves in the solution of the aluminum sulphate, leavinga clean metal surface which is in condition to be electroplatedimmediately after being withdrawn from the solution.

A still further example of the method and composition of my invention isto employ a buffing compound composed of polyethylene glycol having amolecular weight of about 1540 (Carbowax 1,540) and stearic acid in aproportion to the polyethylene glycol to form substantially thedi-stearate, which serves as the vehicle, and an abrasive material ofCarborundum and calcium carbonate, the abrasive material and the vehiclebeing proportioned to permit use in stick form. After the metal articleto be electroplated has been sufficiently buffed with the said buffingcompound, the film which is left on the surface of the article isremoved by spraying with fine sprays of water, or dilute hydrochloricacid solution, of normal strength, for example, and is then immersed inthe electroplating bath and is immediately electroplated. in accordancewith any of the well known methods.

As an example of the water-soluble type of bufiing compound, thefollowing composition be used:

Percent by weight Silica, preferably of 200 mesh '75 Polyethylene glycolstearate (4,000 M01. Wt.) 20 Beeswax 2 Sodium bicarbonate and tartaricacid 3 (The latter being in substantially stoiohiometric proportions) inthis composition, the silica is the cutting agent and is in the largestproportion. The polyethylene glycol of about 4,000 Mol. Wt., which maybe obtained on the market under the name Carbowax 4,000 is preferably inthe form of the di--stearate and is dispersible in water. The sodiumbicarbonate and tartaric acid react in the presence of water to releasecarbon dioxide and functions to remove the film of buffing material fromthe buffed metal surface. The beeswax in the composition serves toincrease the adhering properties of the stick on the buffing wheel. Inthis composition, the materials are completely dissolved in the wateremployed and are freed from the surface to be electroplated, whereas inbuffing compounds of the prior art containing stearic acid and paraflinwax, these materials are insoluble in water, dilute acids and dilutealkalis, and must be removed by additional steps, therefore, as bysaponification or emulsification.

It has been found experimentally that bufiing compounds containing anabrasive with a vehicle such as polyethylene glycol of a molecularweight between 4000 and 6000 are thermally unstable at the temperaturesattained on the buffing wheel, which resulted in smoking and charringand loss of solubility in water, resulting in difficulties in theremoval or the residue or film of the buffing compound after the buffingoperation. Such buffing compounds do not stay on the wheel due to itslow melting point and lack of adhesion, thus causing excessiveconsumption of the huffing material and delay in the work because of theneed of stopping and redressing the buffing wheel. For these reasons,the use of polyethylene glycol or Carbowax alone with the abrasivematerial was abandoned and polyethylene glycol esters were employed withthe abrasive material, including both mono-esters and the di-esters.

As an example, 74 parts of green polishing rouge were used with 26 partsby weight of polyethylene glycol di-stearate and stearic acid, thelatter containing 38.6 parts of polyethylene glycol di-stearate and 61.4parts of stearic acid by weight, which was found to be whollysatisfactory, as the vehicle has proper adherence to the wheel, and hadthe necessary heat stability at the temperatures attained during buffingand further, the vehicle was readily dispersible in hot water afterexposure to the buffing temperatures. In place of the polyethyleneglycol di-stearate, the di-oleate di-palmitate may be used, or a mixedester such as polyethylene glycol monostearate, mono-cleats, ormono-palmitate may be used, although it will be understood that thedi-stearate, with stearic acid, as in the above example, is preferred asit may be readily pre pared in stick form which is the preferred formfor commercial use.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with certainpreferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications andvariations thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spiritand scope of the invenion, as those skilled in the art will readilyunderstand. The vehicle of the bufing compound may contain waxes, gums,clays or wetting agents which are soluble or dispersible in water.

Among the agents which are dispersible in water, I may include gumarabic, gum tragacanth, Carbowax 4,000 M01. Wt. mono-stearate anddi-stearate, that is, polyethylene glycol monostearate and di-stearate,in which the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight of about 4,000

or from about 4,000 to 6,000, also sulfonategl alcohols, amino stearin,ammonium salts of fatty acids, esters of sodium sulfo-succinic acid,alkyl and aryl sulfonates, sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, sorbitanmono-laurate, cetyl sulfate, fatty alcohol sulfates, penta-erythritolmono-stearates, mannitol mono-oleate, propanol glycol laurate and othercompounds or materials which have a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic group,so that they have many characteristics of a grease or oil and yet aresoluble in water, there being a balance between the polar and non-polargroups so that a wetting action is obtained. All such materials willtherefore disperse in water or in dilute acid or dilute alkalisolutions. When two or more of such materials are united and mixed witha cutting compound or abrasive, such as silica, for example, a buffingcompound is formed which lubricates the buffing wheel and which at thesame time holds the cutting compound to the wheel, it being understoodthat a polyethylene glycol ester is employed in the compound to impartthe desired dispersible properties and heatstability at the buffingtemperatures. After the buffing action is complete, the residual film ofbuffing compound will be soluble in water or will disperse therein, orin dilute acid or alkali, depending on the particular composition used,resulting in the release of the cutting compound from the surface of themetal to be electroplated, or from the surface of the article to befurther treated.

It will be understood that buffed articles, whether metal or plastic,may be covered or coated with lacquer, a plastic material or the like,and such variations and modifications as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art are to be considered within the purview of theinvention and the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A buffing compound for polishing the surface of an article to befurther treated after the buffing operation by the removal of thewaterdispersible film residue of which is adapted to be readily removedby an aqueous liquid after the completion of the buffing operation whichcomprises an abrasive material containing constituents of the groupconsisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate,and a mixture of aluminum sulphate and a metal carbonate for thedevelopment of a film-dispersing gas in contact with water acidulatedwith an acid of the group consisting of sulphuric acid, hydrochloricacid and tartaric acid and a vehicle therefor containing polyethyleneglycol stearate and stearic acid.

2. A buffing compound for polishing the surface of a metal article to beelectroplated and which is adapted for the removal of thewater-dispersible residual film of hurling compound left after thebuffing operation which comprises an abrasive material containing acarbonate and a vehicle therefor containing a reaction product ofpolyethylene glycol and an organic higher monobasic fatty acid combinedtherewith which is soluble in a dilute acid of suflicient strength toform carbon dioxide from the carbonate to remove the water-dispersibleresidual vehicle film from the article after buffing, but ofinsufficient; strength to appreciably attack the metal of the articleduring normal time of contact therewith.

3. A bufiing compound for buffing the surface of a plastic article to befurther treated after the bufiing operation by lacquering the same whichcomprises an abrasive material and a vehicle combined therewithcontaining a polyethylene glycol chemically combined with an organichigher monobasic fatty acid forming a water soluble ester which isresistant to buffing temperatures Without charring and without alteringthe dispersibility of the compound in water to remove the residualvehicle film from the article after bulling.

4. A bufiing compound for buffing the surface of a metal article to beelectroplated and adapted for removal of the residual film of thebuffing compound from the buffed surface when immersed in an aqueousmineral acid solution of low concentration which comprises an abrasivematerial and a vehicle combined therewith containing a polyethyleneglycol having a molecular Weight between 1,000 and 6,000 combined withstearic acid in the form of a chemical compound of' the class consistingof a monoester and a diester, and containing a compound of the classconsisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and calciumcarbonate adapted to liberate a film-dispersing gas when the bufiedarticle is treated with an aqueous mineral acid solution of sufficientstrength to liberate said gas but of insufficient strength toappreciably attack the metal of said article during normal time ofcontact therewith.

5. A bufling compoundfor buffing the surface of a metal article to beelectroplated which is adapted for removal of the residual film thereoffrom the buffed surface when contacted with a dilute hydrochloric acidsolution which comprises an abrasive material containing a metalcarbonate, a vehicle for the abrasive material containing a reactionproduct of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight between about1,000 and 6,000 and stearic acid in sufficient proportion to form astearate, the water dispersible residual film of bufing compoundremaining on the buffed iii 10' surface reacting upon contact withdilute hydrochloric acid to liberate carbon dioxide from the metalcarbonate and assisting removal and dispersal of the bufiing compoundresidue into said dilute solution.

6. A buffing compound for buiiing the surface of a metal article to beelectroplated which comprises an abrasive material containing aluminumoxide and calcium carbonate, and a vehicle therefor containing about 25%of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight between about 4,000 and6,000 and about of stearic acid in chemical combination with the saidpolyethylene glycol, the residual film of which remaining on the buffedarticle reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid solution to liberate carbondioxide, which serves to remove said film and to clean the metal surfacein contact with said solution.

7. A buffing compound for bumng the surface of an article and adapted tobe readily removed after the bufiing operation which comprises asiliceous abrasive material admixed with a vehicle of a polyethyleneglycol ester of an organic higher monobasic fatty acid, said esterhaving a molecular weight between about 1,000 and 6,000 and a gasgenerating medium of tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate which isadapted to react in the presence of water to release carbon dioxide toassist in removing the water-dispersible residual film of bumng compoundon the surface of the article when the buffing operation is completed.

0. A bufiing compound for buffing the surface of an article comprisingan abrasive material selected from the group consisting of powderedsilica, tripoli, silicon carbide, emery, calcium carbonate and mixturesof the same with sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, together witha vehicle of a polyethylene glycol ester of an organic higher monobasicfatty acid, said ester having a molecular weight between about 1,000 and6,000, and adapted to resist high bufiing temperatures and to causeadherence to the buffing wheel without altering its water solubility.

9. A bufling compound for polishing the surface of a metal articlepreparatory to electroplating the same and adapted to be removed afterthe polishing operation from the metal surface by contact with waterwithout leaving residual film on the metal surface which comprises anabrasive material selected from the group consisting of powdered silica,tripoli, silicon carbide, emery, and mixtures thereof intimately admixedwith a binder containing a polyethylene glycol ester of an organichigher monobasic fatty acid, said ester having high molecular weight,sodium bicarbonate and tartaric acid, said binder being adapted to causeadherence of the buffing compound to the buiiing Wheel Withoutundergoing charring or decomposition or change in solubility in water,and adapted on contact with water to liberate carbon dioxide to removeresidual buff ing compound from the buffed surface after the buffingoperation and rendering the article sufficiently clean for immediatelyelectroplating the same.

10. A method for hurling and cleansing the surface of an article to befurther treated after the buffing operation by removal of awater-dispersible residual culling compound which com prises bufiingsaid article with a water-dispersible bufling compound containing anabrasive material, an ingredient of the class consisting of a metalcarbonate, a bicarbonate and a mixture of tartaric acid and sodiumbicarbonate, adapted to liberate carbon dioxide in contact with an 11aqueous liquid and a vehicle containing an ester of polyethylene glycolof an organic higher monobasic fatty acid, said ester having a molecularweight between about 1,000 and 6,000 and treata ing the surface of thebuffed article with an aqueous vehicle to liberate carbon dioxide fromthe water-dispersible residual buffing compound to disperse the sameinto the said liquid and to cleanse the surface of the articlepreparatory to further treatment.

11. A method for boiling and cleansing the metal surface of an articleto be electroplated after the buffing operation by removal of awaterdispersible residual buffing compound which comprises bufiing saidarticle with a water-dispersible buffing compound containing an abrasivematerial and a vehicle combined therewith containing an ester ofpolyethylene glycol of an organic higher monobasic fatty acid, saidester having a molecular weight between about 4,000 and 6,000, andcombined with stearic acid together with a carbonate of the classconsisting of a metal carbonate and a bicarbonate, and reacting theresidual buffing compound on the buifed metal article with an aqueousliquid containing dilute hydrochloric acid to liberate carbon dioxidefrom the carbonate therein and to disperse the said water dispersibleresidual buffing compound into the said aqueous liquid.

12. A method for buffing and cleansing the surface of an article to befurther treated after the buffing operation by removal of a water-dispersible residual bufling compound which comprises buffing said articlewith water-dispersible bufling compound containing an abrasive, a gasgenerating medium of tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate, admixed witha vehicle containing a stearate of polyethylene glycol having amolecular weight between 1,000 and 6,000, and reacting thewater-dispersible residual buffing compound remaining on the surface ofthe article after'the buffing operation with an aqueous liquid to formcarbon dioxide by the interaction of the tartaric acid with the sodiumbicarbonate and permitting the water-dispersible residual buffingcompound to disperse in the said aqueous liquid.

13. A method for buffing and cleansing the surface of a metal article tobe electroplated which comprises buffing said article with a buffingcompound containing aluminum oxide and calcium carbonate together with avehicle containing about 25% of polyethylene glycol having a molecularweight between about 4,000 and 6,000 and about 75% of stearic acid inchemical combination with said polyethylene glycol, treating theresidual film of buffing compound remaining after the bufling operationwith a dilute solution of hydrochloric acid to liberate carbon dioxidefrom the said carbonate and dispersing said residual film into the saiddilute solution to completely cleanse the surface of said metal articleprior to electroplating.

14. A method for buffing and cleansing the surface of a metal articlepreparatory to electroplating the same which comprises buffing saidarticle with a water-dispersible buffing compound containing an abrasivematerial selected from the group consisting of powdered silica, tripoli,silicon carbide, emery, aluminum oxide and calcium carbonate, togetherwith a gas generating material selected from the group consisting oftartaric acid with sodium bicarbonate, adapted to react in the presenceof water, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate,adapted to react in the presence of a bufiing operation thereby .watersolution of a mineral acid, and sodium hydride, and containing a bindercomposed of an ester of polyethylene glycol selected from the groupconsisting of the mono ester of an organic higher fatty acid and thediester of an organic higher fatty acid of polyethylene glycol saidester having a molecular weight between about 1,000 and 6,000, and anorganic acid of the group consisting of stearic acid, palmitic acid andoleic acid, and a material selected from the group consisting of gumarabic, gum tragacanth, a sulphonated alcohol, an amino stearin, anammonium salt of a fatty acid, an ester of sodium sulfo-succinic acid,an alkyl sulfonate, an aryl sulfonate, sodium alkyl naphthalenesulfonate, sorbitan laurate, mannitol mono-oleate, mannitolmono-stearate, cetayl sulfate, fatty alcohol sulfate, penta-erythritolmono-stearate, and propanol glycol laurate, to provide a wetting action,treating the surface of the said article after the buffing operationwith a dilute water solution of a mineral acid and dispersing thewater-dispersible residual buffing compound into the said water solutionto fully cleanse the said surface.

15. A buffing compound for polishing the surface of an article to befurther treated by removal of film of water-dispersible buihng compoundand which is adapted to be readily removed in film form from the buffedsurface after the buiimg operation by using an aqueous liquid whichcomprises a buffing abrasive material and a vehicle therefor containinga polyethylene glycol of a molecular weight of from 1,000 to 6,000 andan organic higher fatty acid chemically combined therewith to render thewater-dispersible buffing compound resistant to bumng temperaturewithout charring and to protect the said water-dispersible buffingcompound so as to render a film thereof dispersible in an aqueous liquidafter the permitting immediate further treatment of the articleincluding electroplating.

16. A buffing compound for polishing the surface of an article to befurther treated after the buffing operation, a water-dispersible film ofwhich on the buffed surface is adapted to be readily removed bymeans ofwhich comprises an abrasive and a vehicle therefor containing an esterof polyethylene glycol of a molecular weight of from 1,000 to 6,000 andan organic higher monobasic fatty acid chemically combined therewith torender the compound more resistant to high buffing temperatures and toprotect the compound so as to render a waterdispersible film thereofdispersible in an aqueous liquid after the bufling operation, permittingimmediate further treatment of the surface of said article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,632,909 Mason June 21, 1021 2,055,220 Pine Sept. 22, 19362,130,128 Griesinger Sept. 13, 1036 2,436,128 Twyning Feb. 17, 19432,501,145 Smith Mar. 21, 1950 2,540,376 Onkey Feb. 6, 1951 2,548,582Boak Apr. 10, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Synthetic Organic Chemicals, TwelfthEd. Pub. by Carbide and Carbon Chemical Corp.

an aqueous liquid 7

1. A BUFFING COMPOUND FOR POLISHING THE SURFACE OF AN ARTICLE TO BEFURTHER TREATED AFTER THE BUFFING OPERATION BY THE REMOVAL OF THEWATERDISPERSIBLE FILM RESIDUE OF WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE READILY REMOVEDBY AN AQUEOUS LIQUID AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE BUFFING OPERATION WHICHCOMPRISES AN ABRASIVE MATERIAL CONTAINING CONSTITUENTS OF THE GROUPCONSISTING OF SODIUM CARBONATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, CALCIUM CARBONATE,AND A MIXTURE OF ALUMINUM SULPHATE AND A METAL CARBONATE FOR THEDEVELOPMENT OF A FILM-DISPERSING GAS IN CONTACT WITH WATER ACIDULATEDWITH AN ACID OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SULPHURIC ACID, HYDROCHLORICACID AND TARTARIC ACID AND A VEHICLE THEREFOR CONTAINING POLYETHYLENEGLYCOL STEARATE AND STEARIC ACID.